In 1903; on Coney Island; an elephant named Topsy was electrocuted; and over the past century; this bizarre; ghoulish execution has reverberated through popular culture with the whiff of urban legend. But it really happened; and many historical forces conspired to bring Topsy; Thomas Edison; and those 6600 volts of alternating current together that day. Tracing them all in Topsy The Startling Story of the Crooked Tailed Elephant; P.T. Barnum; and the American Wizard; Thomas Edison; journalist Michael Daly weaves together a fascinating popular history; the first book on this astonishing tale.At the turn of the century; the circus in America was at its apex with the circuses of P.T. Barnum and Adam Forepaugh (or 4-Paw) competing in a War of the Elephants; with declarations of whose pachyderms were younger; bigger; or more “sacredrdquo;. This brought Topsy to America; fraudulently billed as the first native-born; and caught between the circus disputes and the War of the Currents; in which Edison and George Westinghouse (and Nikola Tesla) battled over alternating versus direct current.Rich in period Americana; and full of circus tidbits and larger than life characters—both human and elephant—Topsy is a touching tale and an entertaining read.
#4234362 in eBooks 2013-06-15 2013-05-27File Name: B00B73GWCY
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Inspirational!By BethFabulous book on the iconic architecture of our great national and state parks. Influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement of living with (as opposed to against) nature; the early architects involved with the development of park architecture - or "parkitecture" as it is now often called - produced absolute masterpieces that dot our state and national parks today. Originally published in multiple parts during the first half of the 20th century; this book is chock full of original photographs and designs of structures ranging from signs; fire pits; picnic tables; and way stations; all the way to ranger residences and grand lodges. The earliest examples date to the great national parks created in the early 20th century; and range through the wonderful structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in state parks all over the nation during the 1930s. If you are inspired by National Park Service rustic design/parkitecture; the Arts and Crafts movement; and Civilian Conservation Corps history; this book is for you.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good; better; "Good-est"By CustomerGoods work is a vast "idea mine"; especially for those looking for buildings inspired by LOCAL; on-site materials. Though published originally in the 1930s; this hefty resource demonstrates that good design is never out-dated. Thanks are due to those wise enough to reprint what was obviously a labor of love. There is "good"; there is "better"; and there is "Albert H. Good-est".0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. this is a great reference book with nice HABS style detailsBy David M. WagnerAs an architect; this is a great reference book with nice HABS style details. Great for restoration; preservation and new construction to match the quality of the originals.